I am fascinated by cities in general and London in particular - its history, its architecture, the way it works, its planning, development, and how it is, in Rasmussen's title, a unique city. London is a much better place than it was when I arrived half a century ago and I want to do my bit to continue that improvement. I am a keen campaigner for better cycling conditions because I believe that active transportation delivers multiple benefits to cities - it's quicker, healthier, cleaner, quieter, more enjoyable and makes places better.
I trained as an architect but have spent most of my career writing about architecture, organising exhibitions on it and publishing books and magazines about it. I guess my goal in doing that is to improve the general understanding and quality of design, to promote good architects and architecture and to indulge my passion for the subject. My main hobbies are looking at buildings, cycling, sketching and wood turning.
Specialties: Writing, lecturing, design review, public speaking, chairing things, exhibition curation, marketing and promotion, networking, event organising, fund raising, long distance bike riding.
Cluster, create, devolve, Wed, Nov 1 '17
In 2010 Boris Johnson, when he was Mayor of London, famously stated that he would not accept “Kosovo-style social cleansing of London” as a result of the then Government’s proposals to cut housing benefit payments. Johnson’s comments highlighted the pressures of retaining the social mix of ...
London at the Seoul Biennale, Mon, Sep 18 '17
London made good splash at the inaugural Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism which opened at the beginning of September in Zaha Hadid's DPP Cultural Centre. Taking one of the Biennale's themes of 'The Productive City' the London installation showed a film curated by We ...
The Return of the Master Builder?, Mon, Aug 21 '17
Following the Grenfell Tower disaster, Marc Vlessing, CEO of London residential developer Pocket, was speaking at a NLA Sounding Board meeting. Dutch-born Vlessing stated that for an objective view of such issues he often turned to the European press. Newspapers in Germany and the Netherlands, he ...
Why Not London?, Mon, Jul 3 '17
"Why not London?" I kept asking myself as I wandered round the spectacular opening reception of the spectacular HQ of the Norman Foster Foundation in Madrid. Housed in the former Turkish Embassy building designed by Joaquin Soldana in 1902 the foundation is a treasure trove of Normanalia ...
Globe Trotting Designers, Mon, Apr 24 '17
Following my last blog on the size of London's architectural economy, I was interviewed for a programme on BBC television about the impact of Brexit. Jack Pringle, UK head of Perkins and Will and ex President of the RIBA, was also on the programme and showed the presenter around his office and ...
London's Key Role as a Global Design and Construction Skills Hub, Wed, Mar 29 '17
"The analysis showed that London's architecture sector produced a massive £1.7 billion in gross value added (GVA)—38 per cent bigger than the product, graphic and fashion design sectors put together and greater than many observers expected."
New London Architecture, London, GB, Chairman
The NLA is an independent forum for the discussion of issues relating to physical change in the capital. It brings together the 'urban alliance' of professionals, planners, politicians and public with a stake in the future shape of the city. It is based in the Building Centre with permanent and temporary exhibition galleries and a 1:1500 scale model of central london.
Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA), London, GB, BArch, Architecture
